MSG Edward L. Clouds, Jr., United States Army, Ret.

 Edward Clouds was born in Beavers Fall, Pennsylvania and passed away September 27, 2012, at the age of 73.  He was a resident of Copperas Cove, Texas at the time of his passing, the result of cancer caused by exposure to Agent Orange.





Edward proudly served his country in the United States Army for twenty years, retiring with the rank of Master Sergeant.  His service included three tours of duty in Germany, and service in Kentucky, Georgia and Texas.






 He was a Vietnam Veteran and was awarded the Purple Heart for injuries suffered there.  His numerous military decorations also include two awards of the Bronze Star Medal, three awards of the Army Commendation Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.







After retiring, Ed attended Central Texas College and earned numerous certificates that enhanced his 23 year Civil Service Career.




Ed was an avid hunter, mechanic, carpenter and motorcycle enthusiast who rode with the Southern Cruisers Riding Club.



A funeral service was held on October 4 at the Grace United Methodist Church in Copperas Cove.  Present were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags at the entrance to welcome the arriving family and friends. The service, presided over by the Rev. Stephen Schmidt, included the rendition of  the songs "Amazing Grace", "Bridge Over Troubled Waters"  and "How Great Thou Art". 




After the service, the riders led the procession to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.  There the family was welcome by fifty American flags blowing in the brisk Texas wind.



The flag draped casket was carried from the hearse into the committal
shelter by the Army Honor Guard.  The Riders formed a line of American flags around the shelter, as the minister said the final prayers.




The Army Honor Guard rendered full military honors.  The detail of  six rifles fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country.  The Army bugler played taps, as all in attendance stood at attention.

The flag that draped the coffin was carefully folded into a tight triangle and passed to an Army Staff Sergeant, who presented it to Edward's son, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for the honorable and faithful service of MSG Edward L. Clouds, Jr.

MSG Edward L. Clouds, Jr., was then laid to rest next to his dear wife of 48 years, Brigitte, who passed away on November 13, 2008, at the age of 66.

Left to cherish their memory are two sons, one daughter-in-law, four grandchildren, three brothers and a host of other family and friends.

 God saw you were getting tired

And a cure was not to be.

So He put his arms around you

And whispered, "Come to me."

A golden heart stopped beating,

Hard working hands now rest.

God broke our hearts to prove to us

He only takes the best.

With thanks to Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home for biographical information and photograph.

SFC Steve Matthews, United States Army, Ret.

Steve Ervin Matthews, was born in Lindsay, California, and passed away September 21, 2012, at the age of 59, in McAlester, Oklahoma.

Steve proudly served his country in the United States Army for 21 years, retiring in 1991, with the rank of Sergeant First Class.


He went to work for civil service at Fort Shafer, Hawaii.  Later, he moved to McAlester were he was an ammunitions specialist at the McAlester Army Ammunitions Plant at the time of his passing.

He had a combined total federal service of 42 years.

On October 5, an inurnment service, with full military honors, was held at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.  In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags around the committal shelter, to welcome the arriving family and friends.

An Army Chaplain led the family in the Lord's Prayer, and offered a final prayer.  The Army bugler, standing amidst the live oak trees on the hillside above, played taps, as the rising sun shined brightly in the east.

The Army rifle detail fired three volleys of fire, representing Duty, Honor and Country.  The detail marched to the committal shelter where they carefully unfolded the folded American flag that rested next to the cremains.  That flag was refolded into the traditional triangle and ceremoniously passed to an Army Staff Sergeant.  He presented the flag to Steve's daughter, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for his honorable and faithful service.

The cremains were buried in a special plot nearby, as the American flag flew at half-staff on the hill above, in honor of SFC Steve Matthews.

Left to cherish his memory are two daughters and their husbands, four grandchildren, a brother and a host of other dear family and friends.

With thanks to the McAlester News-Capital for biographical information and photo, and to Ceej Foy for additional photographs.

SSGT Stanley Hobbs, Sr., United States Army, Retired

Stanley Hobbs was born April 13, 1953 in Middlebury, Vermont and passed away September 21, 2012, at the age of 59, in Killeen, Texas.

Stanley proudly served his country in the United States Army for twenty years, retiring with the rank of Staff Sergeant.

On September 27, an inurnment service, with full military honors, was held at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen.  As the family arrived for the service, they were welcomed by more than a dozen Patriot Guard Riders, holding aloft American flags, surrounding the committal shelter.

The family minister read from the book of Isaiah, Chapter 43, verses 1-3:

"But now saith the Lord that created thee, O Jacob, and he that formed thee, O Israel, Fear not:  for I have redeemed thee, I have called thee by thy name;  thou art mine.  When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee;  and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee:  when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned;  neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.  For I am the Lord thy God, the Holy One of Israel, thy Saviour.

He concluded the service by leading the family and friends in The Lord's Prayer.

The United States Army Honor Guard executed full military honors, beginning with the playing of Taps by the Army Bugler.

The detail of five rifles, standing on the hillside above, fired three volleys of fire representing Duty, Honor and Country.

The detail marched to the committal shelter and carefully unfolded the folded flag that rested next to the cremains.  They refolded it into a tight triangle and ceremoniously passed it to an Army Staff Sergeant, who presented it to Stanley's dearly beloved wife, Janet, on behalf of a grateful nation and the United States Army as a token of appreciation for his honorable and faithful service.

The family proceeded to the columbarium wall, where Stanley's son placed the urn into a niche of the wall, which was, then,  sealed for all of eternity.

At the top of the hill above, the American flag flew at half-staff in honor of SSGT Stanley Hobbs, Sr.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, a daughter, his son, Jr., four grandchildren, his mother, Margaret, five brothers, one sister and a host of other dear family and friends.

With thanks to Crawford-Bowers Funeral Home for biographical information and photograph.

Gail Allen Remy, United States Navy Veteran

 Gail Remy was born December 24, 1939 in Norman, Oklahoma and passed away at his home in Georgetown, Texas on September 25, 2012, at the age of 72.

Gail proudly served his country in the United States Navy from 1956 to 1962, obtaining the rank of Non-Commissioned Officer.

On January 18, 2003 he married Evelyn Remy in Las Vegas, Nevada.  He served on the Board of Directors of the Lincoln Club of Texas, a car club of devotees of Lincoln automobiles.  He was the owner of Globe Metal Engravers.

Funeral services were held on October 1 at the Ramsey Funeral Home in Georgetown, Texas.  In attendance were the Patriot Guard Riders who formed a line of American flags at the entrance to welcome the arriving family and friends.

After the service, the family traveled to the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.  There they were welcomed by fifty American flags blowing  in the westerly wind, and by Patriot Guard Riders of the CENTEX Region. 

Six of the Riders moved the flag draped casket from the hearse to the committal shelter.  The Riders then formed a line of American flags along the front of the shelter.

The United States Navy bugler played taps.  The flag that covered the casket was folded into a tight triangle, and presented to Gail's dear wife, by a Master Chief Petty Officer, on behalf of the President of the United States and the Chief of Naval Operations as a symbol of appreciation for Gail's service to this Country and a grateful Navy.

Gail's son stood next to the coffin, and spoke tearfully of his father.

Gail Remy was then laid to rest on the grassy plain of the cemetery, as the American flag flew at half-staff in his honor at the top of the hill.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, four sons, a daughter, seven grandchildren and a host of other dear family and friends.




 
 

With thanks to Ramsey Funeral Home for biographical information and photo.

CWO2 Stephen Doughty, United States Army Veteran

Stephen Doughty was born on November 26, 1946 in Rhinebeck, New York and passed away August 4, 2012, at the age of 65, at a hospital in the Temple, Texas area.

Stephen proudly served his country in the United States Army in Vietnam as a helicopter pilot.  His many military decorations include the Army Air Medal and multiple awards of the Army Commendation Medal.

At the time of his death, Stephen was homeless, and alone. There were no known living relatives on the occasion of his passing, so an interment service was planned to be held with the Patriot Guard Riders acting as his family.

That service was held on September 4 at the Central Texas State Veterans Cemetery at Killeen, Texas.  In attendance were scores of Riders who lined the road in front of the committal shelter. 

Six of the Riders transferred the flag draped coffin from the hearse to the shelter.  The Riders then  gathered in the committal shelter for the interment service.

A member of the Riders, who is a chaplain, said a few words for Stephen and led the congregants in final prayers. 




Military honors were rendered by the United States Army Honor Guard.  Taps was played, while the Riders stood at attention and saluted.

The American flag that covered the casket was carefully folded into a tight triangle and passed to Army Lt. Serna, who presented the flag to the Patriot Guard Riders Ride Captain, as a token of appreciation of a grateful nation and the United States Army for Stephen's faithful and dedicated service to his country.

CWO2 Stephen Doughty was then laid to rest on the sloping plain of the cemetery as the American flag flew at half-staff on the hill above in his honor.



A sister of Stephen, who lives in Virginia, was subsequently located and contacted.  The folded flag was encased in a glass fronted flag box, sent to Patriot Guard Riders in Virginia, and presented to Stephen's sister, at her home, on October 13.

With thanks to Marianne Lijewski, Killeen Daily Herald, Jim McGinley and Ceej Foy for photographs.

Link to news report.

http://kdhnews.com/news/article_2166c460-f70f-11e1-891a-001a4bcf6878.html